Water cooling means for engine

Abstract

An improved thermostat arrangement for an internal combustion engine and an associated cooling system for the engine. The thermostat is designed so as to introduce a swirl in the thermostat housing to reduce pulsations in the coolant. In addition, the engine disclosed has its cooling jacket in such a way that the water pump is at one end of the engine and the thermostat is at the other end of the engine so as to facilitate transverse mounting of the engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermostat arrangement for an internal combustion engine having an outer housing defining an internal cavity, a thermostatic valve contained within said outer housing and defining first and second portions of said internal cavity, said thermostatic valve being movable along an axis between a closed position wherein communication between said portions is restricted and an open position wherein said portions have substantially unrestricted communication, an inlet port extending into one of said housing portions, and an outlet port opening into another of said housing portions, at least one of said ports being configured relative to its associated housing portion and to the axis of said thermostatic valve for direction the flow of coolant against said thermostatic valve for generating a swirl circumferentially around said axis of said thermostatic valve for precluding the transmissions of pulsations through said outer housing to the associated cooling system. 
     
     
       2. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one port comprises an inlet port and further including a bypass port extending from said one portion back to the associated cooling system. 
     
     
       3. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 2 wherein there are a pair of inlet ports each disposed relative to the first housing portion to generate a swirl. 
     
     
       4. A thermostat arrangement for an internal combustion engine having an outer housing defining an internal cavity, a thermostatic valve contained within said outer housing and defining first and second portions of said internal cavity, said thermostatic valve being movable between a closed position wherein communication between said portions is restricted and an open position wherein said portions have substantially unrestricted communication, an inlet port extending into one of said housing portions, at least one of said ports being configured relative to its associated housing portion for directing the flow of coolant against said thermostatic valve for generating a swirl around said thermostatic valve for precluding the transmission of pulsations through said outer housing to the associated cooling system, said one housing portion being generally cylindrical in configuration and the one port is offset to one side of the cylinder from its axis for generating the swirl. 
     
     
       5. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 4 wherein there are a pair of ports each offset to opposite sides of the axis. 
     
     
       6. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 5 wherein the engine has a pair of cylinder banks each delivering fluid to a respective one of the inlet ports. 
     
     
       7. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 6 wherein the engine is of the V type. 
     
     
       8. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 7 further including a water pump disposed at the end of the engine opposite to the thermostat housing. 
     
     
       9. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 8 wherein the bypass line returns to the water pump along the length of the engine. 
     
     
       10. A thermostat arrangement as set forth in claim 9 wherein the thermostat has its temperature responsive element positioned within the one portion.